Updates from Monday 22 July to Sunday 28 July
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A plan to overhaul a town centre has been given £150,000 to find consultants to oversee the scheme., external
Image source, GoogleSutton Coldfield Town Council wants to "reshape" the area for the next 15 years in the face of falling retail sales.
It's had the funding from the local enterprise partnership and, once a consultant is appointed, says it'll start a public consultation on the plans in early 2020.
BBC Sport
Wolves take a 2-0 lead to Northern Ireland for the second leg of their Europa League tie against Crusaders, after the visitors proved to be stubborn opponents at Molineux last night.
Image source, Getty ImagesRuben Vinagre scored in the final seconds to improve Wolves' position, following a Diogo Jota goal in the first half.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: "We showed we are ready but not as sharp and accurate as we should be. Crusaders fought for every ball to prevent goals. We will have to be focussed in Belfast."
The sides will meet again for the second leg in Belfast next Thursday.
The winners will meet either Czech side FK Jablonec or Armenians Pyunik in the third round, with the latter taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg.
A police dog who was brutally knifed while trying to protecting his dog handler is to be awarded a medal for bravery.
Image source, PAPD Bacca, now retired from West Mercia Police, was slashed in the head eight times and PC Mike Davey suffered a deep cut to his hand.
Both have made a full recovery following last June's attack in Bromyard, Herefordshire
Bacca is being presented with the PDSA's Gold Medal - which the charity regards as the animal equivalent of the George Cross - in a ceremony at Birmingham Repertory Theatre later.
'Hero' police dog and handler to get bravery award
Rail users not able to travel on Thursday due to overhead line and signalling problems, can use their tickets today, said Virgin Trains.
All lines are back open but there are still delays to services through Birmingham New Street.
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A man is due in court today charged with two counts of attempted murder.
Image source, GoogleKamil Kopec, 27, from Hunderton Avenue, Hereford, is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon following an incident in the early hours of Wednesday morning
A woman and a child were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police say they were called to reports of an assault.
Some of the headlines on the Express and Star website today are:
Armed officers have been searching parts of Stoke-on-Trent following disorder in the city centre.
The disorder "was initially spread over a number of streets" - Sun Street, Milton Street and Etruria Vale Road - on Thursday afternoon the ambulance service said.
Five men have been injured, one critically, and four men from Stoke-on-Trent have been arrested on suspicion of affray.
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Local Democracy Reporting Service
Plans for 275 homes in Ledbury have been approved, despite concerns about the layout.
One of the ward members for the town, Liz Harvey, had complained that placing social housing on the edges of the housing estate made those homes a buffer to noise from a nearby cheese factory.
Barratt Homes’ plans to develop land south of Leadon Way had originally been approved in 2016, but came back before Herefordshire Council after a High Court ruling over noise concerns.
Image source, PA MediaTown councillor John Bannister told a Herefordshire Council planning meeting: "This design is straight out of the 1980s" and raised concerns about the lack of renewable energy schemes and waste recycling.
But West Mercia Housing backed the plans, saying the affordable homes would benefit the town and the plans were passed by 12 votes to two.
Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke
Swimmer Adam Peaty says his World Championship gold medals this week have added to his confidence that he'll be successful at next summer's Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Image source, ReutersThe 24-year-old, from Uttoxeter, won the 100m and 50m breaststoke events and he broke his own world record in the semi-final of the 100m.
In 2016, Peaty secured Great Britain's first medal in Rio and he's among the favourites to take gold for Team GB in Tokyo.
Quote MessageAs long as I just stay me, do what I do, feel the pressure a little bit but not too much, then happy days. But this journey for me, I'm enjoying it, I'm absolutely loving what I do and that's the most important thing."
Adam Peaty, Swimmer
BBC News Travel
A train has broken down on the line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.
Tickets can be used on London Northwestern Railway services between Birmingham and Stafford to connect with trains to Lichfield Trent Valley, said National Rail.
Passengers can also use National Express West Midlands Buses on the CrossCity line.
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Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
It should be a sunny day with the chance of some showers and feeling cooler with highs of 24C (75F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Trains could still be delayed or cancelled after yesterday's overhead line and signalling problems.
The National Rail website reports a number of incidents resulted in major disruption in the Birmingham area and many London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway trains are expected to be in the wrong place for the start of service.
As a result, trains in the Birmingham area may continue to be cancelled or revised until approximately 11:00.
London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services through Birmingham New Street are affected as are CrossCountry services between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
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Overhead power line damage due to hot weather affected those travelling in the West Midlands on Thurday, but engineers "worked hard" to repair the damage, said Network Rail.
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Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Friday.
We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.
You can get in touch via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.
A school boss says the Department for Education wanted to keep the LGBT teaching row out of the media.
Read MoreThe hospital says the provision will make a significant difference to families.
Read MoreThe fire spread to four boats and one woman was airlifted to hospital.
Read MoreRestrictions over identifying Viktorija Sokolova's killer are lifted after a press application.
Read MoreAyman Aziz is seen walking to and from the Wolverhampton park where he attacked Viktorija Sokolova.
Read More
Andy Giddings
BBC News
We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.
A new app has been launched to help officers tackle crimes in rural areas.
Warwickshire Police said the new app would allow it to share information more easily, and deploy officers to remote locations.
Image source, Warwickshire PoliceIt will also help provide precise location mapping, latest rural updates and briefings for officers, the force said.
The news came on the same day as Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones lobbied new Prime Minister Boris Johnson for Warwickshire to get its "fair share" of money for extra officers.
MP lobbies for 'fair share' of police funding
